High school football: Class of 2022 already contributing

Perry A. Farrell Detroit Free Press Published 6:02 PM EST Nov 8, 2018 William Johnson comes from good football bloodlines. His dad, Deon, played defensive back at Michigan from 1990-94. William has already made an impression as a freshman at Grosse Pointe South High School and is one of the rising starts of the state’s Class of 2022. A defensive back by nature, the 6-foot, 160-pound freshman started there and at wide receiver and made a good showing for a team that made the playoffs. “The coaches brought me in and let me develop,’’ said William. “I’m probably a better defensive back right now because that’s my main position. This is my first year playing receiver. Playing defensive back helped me with my ball skills as a wide receiver. I prefer playing defensive back because I’ve played it my whole life. We only had one receiver, so I helped the team by playing wideout. I had to step up.’’ He said he prioritized getting stronger as he moved from youth football to the varsity. “Trying to keep up with players older than me was an adjustment,’’ Johnson said. “The game got easier the longer I played. It started slowing down the last three games of the season going into the playoffs.’’ Johnson plans to play basketball as he trains for next season. “Basketball is my second love,’’ Johnson said. Related: Deon Johnson said he originally was going to give his son a C+ grade, but changed his mind. “I’m hard on… [Read full story]